Happy 2013

We have just started normality again after Christmas, which was very nice thank you.

We had some snow here beforehand to get us in the winter mod but then it all started to go and we travelled home in 20th December for 10 days in soggy Devon.  And was it soggy?  Never seen it so soggy!

Lots of snow in December

We were prepared for rain but it hardly stopped and the floods!  Well . . . .   never seen anything like it!

Anyhow, the first thing we did the day after we arrived was go and get the Christmas tree.  Dad had already chopped one down and so we traipsed up the field to take a look.  The first one he showed was pronounced as  "A bit scruffy!"  But this one was ok.

Will this do?

Matt brought it in and Mum, Dad and the children decorated it while I went upstairs and opened all the Amazon parcels to start wrapping presents.  Took forever and when I came down the tree was decorated and Katie was desperate to put presents underneath.  They were really good and didn't squash them all to work out what was in them.

Jingle Bells!

We  had quite a busy schedule but it didn't feel too manic. Went out for dinner with Ali and Mark which was lovely and on Christmas Eve The Shingleton's and Evan's came round for lunch and a walk but we just went up in the field which was good enough for the children.  

Me and Jen

Exploring the undergrowth

It was so funny, Katie and Alex were concerned about Father Christmas not taking his boots to come in the house.  I had just hoovered and so Katie said that in our note we should write "Dear Father Christmas, Please take your boots off because mummy has just hoovered."  

Milk and mince pies for Father Christmas and carrots for the reindeer.

Katie was also interested in whether Father Christmas ate ALL the snacks left out for him and was that why he was fat.  When I went out on the doorstep later to retrieve the snacks, there was a mouse eating a mince pie.  I threw them to the birds.


Christmas day was spent in the usual opening pressie fashion but then we went to the Thurlstone Hotel for lunch.  There were 17 of us and we couldn't all fit in Matt's mum's house!  I was totally gobsmacked by how busy it was and how many people were away for Christmas or just out for Christmas lunch..  It was very nice and I had fish just as a change as mum had done a turkey a couple of days before.

Christmas morning

Playing Glücks Piraten with Amos

Dad making Hazel laugh

So a good Christmas Day. Boxing Day we went to Matt's dad's and the rest of the time was spent seeing friends and relaxing. All very nice.

Alex liking the mud

And jumping in the flood with Katie, Klara and Freya.

We came home on 30th and no snow.  Almost spring like!  We did fireworks on New Years Eve early for the children. Katie likes the pretty ones and not the bangs but Alex likes the noisy ones best!  Weather was clear and at midnight the fireworks around us were really good.  We did some but I think we need to spend a lot more money to get a good display!

On New Years Day I went skiing with Katie.  We had a fun time and it got to be quite an adventure. She was doing really well so when we got to the top of the T-bar I saw some kids coming down from the next T-bar so thought, what hte hell , let's go up!  But my navigation is rubbish and so of course I missed coming down immediately after the lift so we ended up going all the way to the top on the chairlift!  She got a bit scared on the way down so I had her between my legs.  I was terrified I'd put her off for life!  Bot so!  She had a great day and I told her it was ok to be scared sometimes.  Now we need some more snow to go again!

ski bunny

At the top, just before she got tired and scared.